Question Tag: Revenue Inquiry

a) The accurate reporting of income and expenses by cash intensive businesses has been a biggest challenge to various Revenue Authorities.

Required i. Explain briefly three potential problems encountered when assessing the income of a business with high cash transactions.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          (b)

The Income Tax Officer, on assessing the income of Ben J for the financial years 2018-2019 feels that Ben J has not disclosed the full income. He gives you the following particulars of assets and liabilities of Ben J as of 1st January 2018 and 1st January 2019

| 1-1-2018:: | Assets: | Cash in hand | 25,500 | | | | Inventory | 56,000 | | | | Sundry debtors | 41,500 | | | | Land and Building | 190,000 | | | | Wife’s Jewlery | 75,000 | | | Liabilities: | Owing to Ben J’s Brother | 40,000 | | | | Sundry creditors | 35,000 | | 1-1-2019 | Assets | Cash in hand | 16,000 | | | | Inventory | 91,500 | | | | Sundry debtors | 52,500 | | | | Land and Building | 190,000 | | | | Motor Car | 125,000 | | | | Wife’s Jeweler | 105,000 | | | | Loan to Ben J’s Brother | 20,000 | | | Liabilities: | Sundry creditors | 55,000 |

During the two years the domestic expenditure was GHS 4,000 per month. The declared income of the financial years was GHS105,000 for 2018 and GHS123,000 for 2019 respectively.

Required: I) State whether the Income-tax Officer’s contention is correct. Explain by giving your workings. (3 marks) ii) Outline the audit steps to verify the information submitted.